There was also caution ahead of Yellen’s speech on Friday at the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Summit in Wyoming. European Central Bank President Mario Draghi will also speak at the conference.

“The Fed’s Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium starts this evening, but will only affect markets from tomorrow,” Rand Merchant Bank economist John Cairns said in a note, adding: “All eyes through the end of the week are on Jackson Hole.”

The Johannesburg All-Share index ended 0.76 percent higher at 56,588 points, a new record high. The Top-40 index rose 0.74 percent to 50,101 points, also a record high.

Leading the gainers, Ascendis Health Ltd shares soared 14.92 percent to a 4-1/2 week high of 20.95 rand. The company said it expected its full-year headline earnings per share to rise up to 66 percent.

In fixed income, the yield for the benchmark government bond closed flat at 8.585 percent. (Reporting by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo and Nqobile Dludla. Editing by Jane Merriman)